Smart People: Starting a New Blog Section (Thanks to Oleg Tinkov)
Today I decided to start a new section on my blog, and at first I called it “Smart People.”
A new blog section: notes, videos, and stories about people worth learning from
The idea came to me after I stumbled a couple of days ago across the blog of Russian entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov, founder of the Tinkoff Group and Tinkoff Credit Systems bank. Reading his posts and watching his clips made me realize my blog was missing a dedicated corner for people like that.
What Caught My Eye in Oleg Tinkov’s Blog
Most successful businesspeople communicate through dry press releases or overly polished magazine interviews. On LiveJournal, Tinkov does the exact opposite: he writes directly without corporate gloss, publishes his “My Way” memoirs about starting from scratch, and shares video clips about his path in business.
Over the years he has launched and sold several well-known ventures: the Tekhnoshok electronics retail chain in St. Petersburg, the Daria frozen food brand, and the Tinkoff brewery and restaurant chain. Since 2006, he has been building Tinkoff Credit Systems – an unusual branchless remote bank for our market that operates without traditional brick-and-mortar offices and is now being tested by the global financial crisis.
Reading firsthand thoughts from a practitioner who made tough calls, took real risks, and isn’t afraid to speak plainly turned out to be far more engaging than any management textbook.
What Will Go Into This Section
In this section, I plan to collect video statements, notable news, and interviews with smart, interesting people. If someone hasn’t found themselves here yet, that’s no reason to take offense – maybe I just missed them or haven’t gotten around to it yet :-)
Here is what I want to gather here:
- Entrepreneur stories: how people started from modest means, made mistakes, adapted, and navigated tough economic times.
- Interviews and videos: short talks, conversations, and standout clips where a clear idea comes through in just a couple of minutes.
- Unconventional thinking: examples of people who challenge the usual templates in business, technology, or everyday life.
I certainly don’t claim to cover the entire picture of the world, but I think this will turn into a lively and useful section – especially for anyone who enjoys picking up good ideas and learning from real experience.
P.S. While finishing this note, I decided to rename the section to “Interesting People.” It sounds broader and fits better.